Handle for screw drivers or the like



Dec. 4, 1951 c. L. DEWEY HANDLE FOR SCREW DRIVERS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 23, 1946 Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITEl); STATES PATENT OFFICE nANnLe FOR soimw DRIVERS on THE 1.1m;

Clarence L. Dewey, Grand Rapids, Mich." 7 Application December 23, 1 946,-Serial No. 718,069 7 .My invention relates-to a small-tool adapted for manual operation. In the embodiments herein shown and described, thetool takes .the forms of a screw driver, and of a' chisel. -It .will :be understood that. these particular forms of tool are merely .illustrative of several-push drills, socket wrenches, are.:others-with ,any one of'w'hich my. invention" may be. advantageously used. v a

The special features of construction which characterize my invention reside largely inv the "form and construction'of the handle which is shaped for convenient'manual operation, and in the connection therewith of a bit orother. work- :engaging. part. The two together make up a simple ltoolwhich is very strongxso as to transmit both percussive and torsional forces without damage to the implement. jectsof my invention. may be realized from 'the tool structure illustrated in. theuaccompanying .drawingin the manner following wherein:

Fig. l'is aside elevation of the portion of the tool adjacent its work-engaging-end;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the tool inits entirety, from a' position -90 around from that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, greatly enlarged, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 1

. ,Fig. 4 is a cross section through the .tool handle in a plane proximate to the users fingers when inlgrasping relation thereto;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the work-engaging angularly extending end portion of a handle adapted-for-Supportof a chisel 'tool; I N

Figi'fi is'a longitudinal section through a tool whose hollow handle at one end is fitted with Fairemovable cap; the opposite tool end being formed with a chuck for support of aflselected Fig. '7 is a transverse section, taken online 1- -'I of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the chuck end of the tool. 3

The tool comprises a handle H operatively connected at one end to a work-engaging part,

such as a bit B of hardened steel. The term "bit will, for convenience, be used hereinafter to designate any such work-engaging part, and

I ask that it beso understood. The handle is .These and other -ob- 1 Claim. (01. 145- 61) surefis applied toithei tool. At the opposite end the grip 6 tapers inwardly at 8 to join' with a finger engaging portion 9 and then inwardly again at III to continue on in the form of a cylindrical shank H. V

The grip 6 is tormed with a plurality of longitudinally extending flutes produced by inward depressionsda which liebetween outward projections bi Thecontour eflutes presents a series of in and out our as 'best shown in Figures'2, 3, and i. When. i'a'sped byv the hand, the encircling fingersand also the thumb may readily be fitted within. he. flutes thereby to eifect a positive grip onltheh' ndle.

The shank H terminates; nfla flattened head 55. This change in form may;- be conveniently produced by appropriate dies which applyf'pr'es sure from oppositesides of the shank. The head so formed is widened outwardly beyond the confines of the shankin one plane and narrowed inwardly thereof in a transverse planer-see Figs. 1 and 2. The head defines withinitself asocket which is elonga a -direction which is diametric of the she At the inner end of the socket is a const I} V iormed by opposed shoulders I6 whicharedis' sad -substantially in the plane of juncture ,b eitw, Qthehead and the shank. v

The bitis provided with a. cross sectional contour substantially the same in sizeand shape as the socket within the head whereby to fit prope'rly therewithin. 'The inner end. of the bit is free to advance as far as the shoulders l6 which serve as an abutment therefor. fIhe bit may be locked in place asjby brazing, welding, orby dimpling inwardly-the head at pointslll. Opposite each other 'andopposite a hole 2! which is extended .transversel-yfthroug-h, the bit. =The inwardly displaced material of the head resulting from the dimples will then enter partly into the bit hole 2| so as to lock the bit fixedly in its operative position.

In use, whether the tool be used as a percussion instrument or for transmitting torsional forces, g

the bit is amply supported to withstand the strains of use. This comes about from the fact that the innerend of the bit is supported again'st.

the shoulders formed at the juncture lofthe. head? a head to provide a socket the Same in contour as the bit which itis designed to accommodate.

The interlock between the bit and head which is a permanent one may be produced in any of the ways suggested.

In the construction suggested in Fig, 5, the shank H at approximately its point of juncture with the flattened head is angled at l6 whereby the supported bit B is disposed angularly with respect to the axis of the shank. Such a special construction may be advantageous in the case of chisels, or a wood carving set. The chisel point, which is comparable in all respects with the bit B, may be fitted within the socket of the head and retained therein in precisely the same way as already described.

Coming now to the construction of Figs. 6-8, I have shown here a, tubular handle H comprising a grip 26 which is tapered inwardly at 28 to join with a finger-engaging portion 29 and then in-' wardly again at 30 to continue on in the form of a cylindrical shank 3|. In the process of drawing the handle to shape, I provide for walls of maximum thickness in the region of the cylindrical shank 3 I, thinning slightly through'the tapering region 30 so as to be still thinner in the finger-engaging portion 29. From this point on the walls are further reduced in thickness through the region of the grip 26, which near its outer end is constricted inwardly and I formed with screw threads 32 to receive engagement from the threaded sides 33 of a closure cap C adapted, upon occasion, to be removed for access to the hollow chamber within the handle.

A plug 35 is secured within the hollow interior of the cylindrical shank 3| so as to establish a closure for the inner end of the chamber within the handle. This plug may be held by a drive fit, or otherwise. Beyond the plug the walls of the shank are longitudinally slotted at 48 to provide multiple jaws M of segmental form which may be compressed toward each other to engage between them the shank s of a tool B, such as a chisel point, a file, etc.

Formed exteriorly upon the segmental jaws are taper threads 45 whereon may be adjustably ness is in the shank where the jaws are formed,

it is possible to produce the taper threads 45 by a cutting operationthe most desirable way.

In thetool under description, the grip may be contoured with flutes, or be cylindrical, according as may be preferred. It embodies the desirable feature'of a light-weight, yet very strong, tubular handle having an interior chamber to which access may readily be gained for insertion or removal of the tool points, together with an arrangement of compressible jaws at the opposite end adapted to be operated in response to movement of the chuck. The plug 35 which establishes a bottom for the chamber within the handle also furnishes an abutment against which may rest the butt end of the tool point.

It is obvious that tools answering to these descriptions will be rugged in the extreme. They will combine this desirable attribute with lightness as well. They may also embody in their handle' some pleasing contours resulting from the presence of the flutings which make for an enhanced gripping power when in the hands of the user; these fiutings also prevent rolling of the tool. Whether the tools be handled carelessly or otherwise, they may be depended upon to perform as an effective mechanical instrument over an extended period of use.

I claim:

A manual tool of tubular form from end to end made from a continuous piece of tubular metal progressively reducedin diameter to provide an enlarged upper grip section, an intermediate finger engaging section, and a lower shank section terminating in a flattened head formed'to receive and laterally support a bit Whose work-engaging end is projected outwardly therebeyond, said flattened head having opposite portions thereof pressed radially inwardly for tight engagement with the supported bit at spaced points therearound to secure the bit fixedly in operative position, the flattened head. extending outwardly beyond the confines of the shank in one plane and narrowed inwardly thereof in a transverse plane and thus forming an abutment inwardly of the end of the flattened head with-which the bit may engage, whereby to transmit thereto a thrust proceeding axially of the tool toward the work.

CLARENCE L. DEWEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 78,916 Babcock June 16, 1868 719,275 Swan Jan. 27, 1903 1,080,661 Smith Dec. 9, 1903 1,442,181 Simon Jan. 16, 1923 1,532,822 Kemp Apr. 7, 1925 1,974,027 Knick Sept. 18, 1934 1,979,460 Forsberg Nov. 6, 1934 

